The victory was the sixth straight for the Blazers, who improved to 18-6 on the season, 13-1 in the NAC. The loss dropped the Spartans to 13-11 overall, 7-7 in conference.
The Blazers led by as many as 14 points in the first half, before the Spartans rode an 8-0 run to come back and take a 38-37 halftime lead. The second half was close throughout and each time Elms College looked to have put the game out of reach, Castleton State climbed back in, setting up a dramatic finish.
Junior guard John Ancrum (Harlem, NY) hit one of two free throws to give the Blazers an 86-84 lead with less than two seconds remaining on the clock. After a long inbounds pass the Spartans were able to get off a clean desperation shot from just inside the half-court line that rimmed out at the buzzer.
The Blazers placed five players, four starters, in double figures. Senior forward Lonnie Branyon III (West Haven, CT) notched a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman forward Antoine Holder (Hartford, CT) also put up a double-double as he drained 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the win.
For the Spartans senior guard Brian Bradley (Middlebury, VT) netted 28 points including six three-point field goals in the losing cause, while sophomore guard Rich Reilly (Manassas, VA) dumped in 20 points.
The Blazers will close out the regular season Saturday, February 18, versus Johnson State College in a NAC game. Tip off will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Maguire Center.
Newspaper Box Score Castleton State College vs Elms College 02/17/06 6:00 p.m. at Chicopee, MA At Chicopee, MA ELMS COLLEGE 86, CASTLETON STATE COLLEGE 84 CASTLETON STATE COLLEGE (13-11, 7-7 NAC) Brian Bradley 10-18 2-2 28; Rich Reilly 6-11 5-6 20; Jeremy Jorgensen 4-7 2-2 10; Larnell Jackson 4-8 1-2 9; Alden Gregory 2-3 2-2 6; Joey Farley 2-6 0-0 5; Matt Tomaino 2-3 0-0 4; Kevin Cayea 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 30-58 14-16 84. ELMS COLLEGE (18-6, 13-1 NAC) Justin Davis 6-13 1-2 19; Lonnie Branyon III 8-18 0-2 17; David Williams 6-13 4-6 16; Antoine Holder 4-14 3-5 12; John Ancrum 3-4 1-2 10; Nathan Hawes 3-7 2-5 8; Randy Hite 2-7 0-0 4; Malakie Berry 0-3 0-0 0; William Beauregard 0-2 0-0 0; Ellis Jones 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-82 11-22 86. Castleton State College....... 38 46 - 84 Elms College.................. 37 49 - 86 3-point goals-Castleton State College 10-21 (Brian Bradley 6-11; Rich Reilly 3-6; Joey Farley 1-2; Matt Tomaino 0-1; Kevin Cayea 0-1), Elms College 11-28 (Justin Davis 6-12; John Ancrum 3-4; Antoine Holder 1-2; Lonnie Branyon III 1-3; William Beauregard 0-2; Ellis Jones 0-1; David Williams 0-4). Fouled out--Castleton State College-None, Elms College-None. Rebounds-Castleton State College 38 (Alden Gregory 7; Jeremy Jorgensen 7), Elms College 47 (Antoine Holder 12). Assists-Castleton State College 9 (Rich Reilly 4), Elms College 15 (David Williams 5). Total fouls-Castleton State College 19, Elms College 14. A-104 Elms College wins sixth straight game. Castleton loses for just the third time in its last nine games overall.